LAND HUNGER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2373, 14 December 1908, Page 6

LAND HUNGER.

THE WAIMATA SECTION.

KEEN COMPETITION AT THE

BALLOT

The Hawke’s Bay Land Board was .busily engaged aft day Saturday examining the 164 applicants for the Waimata section which w'as to he disposed of under the renewable lease provisions of the Land Act and the ,9 applications for a section of 9 a acres at Te Arai. The particulars of the land were published in the “Times” some weeks ago. The Land Office was a busy spot on (Saturday, while the applicants were being examined. Those after the land included persons of several ages and occupations. There were merchants, business men, insurance agents, drapers, bankers, clerks, farmers, am others, and so as to stand a better chance of drawing the (lucky marble when the names of the applicants were being read over it could be noticed that in many cases there were the father, the wife, the sons, and occasionally the daughters of the one family in the running. The examination was not concluded utill late in the afternoon, and the ballot uas drawn at 4.30. Mr. H. Trent, Comunissioner of Crown Lands, -'iperij tended the proceedings, and Messrs W. I* 1 . Cederwall and T. G. Lawless were chosen '.is scrutineers. The examination for the le Aral section had reduced' the eligibU applicants to 8, and the successful person was Miss Sophia Smith. The Waimata section was tlicn drawn, the number of applicants bavin" been reduced to 8/, and Mi. 'vi - liam Bennett, in nr., was successful.